Bibles and Beans

Today’s issue of the International Mission Board’s (IMB) monthly Prayer Points shares this info: “In December, the Radfords* will invite their poor neighbors, about 25 people, to their home for a simple meal. During the evening they will share the story of Jesus and give them New Testaments and other resources such as rice, beans and flour to help make their lives easier. Pray that this outreach will plant seeds and lead to a desire to follow Christ.” (*name changed).

Obviously, this missionary couple lives in an area of the world where it is dangerous to profess Christ, and could lead to harm for their family or those they serve, if their real names were publicized. At Christmas-time, as in their daily contact with those they hope to see embrace the Lord, they combine Scripture with kindness.

How often we have our own agenda. If we do venture outside our comfort zones, we try to encourage folks to attend church, a Bible study, or perhaps a Christmas program. Of course, we realize their most-pressing need is salvation through Christ, and we often emphasize that at the beginning, which they may perceive as “shoving religion” down their throats. Jesus showed a better way: he modeled servant evangelism. Consider his life as he walked among the people. Matthew 9 shows him restoring health (vs. 7, 22, 35), dining with those outside the religious circle of the day (vs. 10), raising the dead (vs. 25), giving sight to the blind (vs. 29-30), and freeing one from demon-possession (vs. 32-33).

Our Lord performed these merciful acts as he “went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, [and] preaching the good news of the kingdom.” (vs. 35).

In their Christmas outreach, the IMB missionaries presented the “bread of life” (John 6:35) with physical bread, modeling Jesus’ example. People were drawn to the Savior by his merciful acts of compassion; as he met their physical needs, their hearts were softened to receive his life-changing message.

In these hectic days of the Christmas season, may we slow down enough to minister to the needs of others, and look for doors to open to a gospel witness.

“Go, tell it on the mountain…that Jesus Christ is born!”

Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)

Of Angels and Shepherds

This unique ornament pictured was sold at a Christian book shop where I once worked. When they surplus stock went on sale, I bought several, which have been given to missionaries I have known. If you look closely, you’ll see that the “O” encapsulates a golden world.

As I looked at it today, I began to think of the song, “The First Noel”, which reminds us of the angel’s message on the night of Jesus’ birth:

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:8-12 NKJV).

What a message to these shepherds! The angel told of “great joy which will be to all people”.

Note the word, “all”. I love the word “all” in the Bible. And I think when it is translated from the original language, it means “all”…plain and simple. No one is excluded from God’s call. Just as “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, (Romans 3:23), the Bible also teaches us that God “is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). There’s that word again.

The angels hurried to find the “Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes”. On discovering Him, they couldn’t keep the news to themselves:

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds (Luke 2:17-18).

The shepherds became the first witnesses of the Lord Jesus. Others continue this task today. One special part of this season is the opportunity to focus on the work Southern Baptist International Mission Board servants (the shepherds of our day) carry out, bringing the message to “all people” in the far reaches of the earth. Will you pray for them today, learn about their task, and give generously to support them? And whether or not we might follow in their footsteps, God is still urging us, as He did the shepherds, to “widely make known” the message that a Savior has been born!

Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain.

Let Freedom Ring

The local KFC looked like the after-church fellowship place today; several FBC families stopped by, intent on commiting the sin of gluttony (well, at least one of them was, and did). It was wonderful to run into Mo (name changed to protect his out-of-the-country ministry). He and his family are here in the U.S. for a couple of months before returning to their field.

Our graduates were honored today during our morning worship service, but our pastor did make mention of those whose families have paid a sacrificial price to secure the freedoms we often take for granted (our special service honoring these heroes is scheduled for next week). The pastor reminded the graduates, and all attendees, that the blessings of life we have today are due to the selfless commitment of these brave men and women.

Freedom...it is a glorious thing. We rightly consider ourselves free because we live in America, and so we are. But what really makes freedom? It's a nebulous word, is it not? We've only to open our newspaper or click on the evening news to see people right here in "the land of the free", who are victims of enslavement in some form, be it discrimination, lack of education, abuse, hunger, or human trafficking. And the issues are compounded in other countries.

Our Lord talks about real freedom: "If the Son sets you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:36). Yes, there are cruel forms of bondage here in the U.S. and around the globe, but entrapment in sin causes hopelessness here, and also in eternity. As my thoughts drift back to Mo, I decided to post this picture taken during a service where Jerry Rankin, President of the International Mission Board, spoke. The parade of flags is always touching, showing countries where we have a missions' presence. But black flags are also somberly presented, bringing to remembrance countries where the light of Christ's gospel has yet to dawn.

Emblazoned on the picture are the words to Joshua 1:16, which could be referred to as an Old Testament response to the New Testament's Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:8. Rankin chose that as his theme, challenging listeners to "GO" - to impact the "ends of the earth". Mo and his wife answered that call; they've taken their family a two-day plane trip away, to raise their children in another culture with another language. As I talked to Mo's mother (a fellow grandma), I commented on how hard it must be, not seeing the grandchildren often; this is the second time in three years they've been together. She nodded, but added - with a surrendered smile - how the family is passionate about the ministry there.

Freedom..."Freely you have received, freely give" (Matt. 10:8). What freedoms are we sacrificing to let the message of freedom in Christ be heard, from the ends of our street to the ends of the world? Mo, Karen, Lynn, Kenny, Pascal, Jeremy, Peggy, Ruth, Jason, Gail...these are names of ordinary Christians, just like you and I, who have answered the call to share the message of eternal freedom. Thank God for them, and support them prayerfully and financially, if necessary. And take another look at the picture. Would you be willing to pray the words of this verse while staring at those flags?

Best wishes from lefthandrightbrain:)